Holy Trinity + Holy Cross - Sermons

Today in Orthodoxy we celebrate God's Spirit poured out on all flesh in the last days, Holy Pentecost. Father Gregory continues his series on the Creed, entitled Symbol of Faith, beginning with the line, "one God, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and all things visible and invisible." Orthodox Christians believe or trust in One God worshipped in three persons. This sermon examines the...

Today we celebrate 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council who gathered in Nicaea in 325 A.D. The Orthodox Church recognizes several councils as the highest authority which produced the Bible and the Creed. Father Gregory begins a new sermon series on the Symbol of Faith known to Orthodox Christians as The Creed. This idea of a statement of faith is found in the writings of Saint Paul and pred...

Today, on the Sunday of The Blind Man, the Gospel is read from John 9:1-38. In this pericope, we hear about the healing of a man born without eyes. Jesus spits on the ground to form mud which he turns into eyes for the blind man, showing He is the same as the Living God who made Adam from clay. Father Micah shares with us that Jesus did not need to make mud to heal the blind man but does because H...

Today, on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, the Gospel is read from John 4:5-42. In the abundance of richness in this Gospel, Father Micah shares one part of one line, "spirit and truth." Worship is central to humanity. The importance of worship is evident in the Old Testament as Israel shows concern for how people worship. The modern world condones the worship of God however seems comfortable an...

Today is the Sunday of the Myrrh Bearing Women, who came to the Tomb to anoint Jesus with spices. The Gospel is taken from Mark 15:43 - 16:1-8 and is also read at the midnight Resurrection service. Sunday is the day of the Resurrection of Jesus, the first fruit of our resurrection. The Resurrection gives us hope that we will overcome life's greatest enemy, death. Hope gives purposeful meaning in l...

Today, on Thomas Sunday, the Gospel is taken from John 20:19-31. Jesus appears to His Apostles, giving them peace and showing them His hands and side. Thomas, who was not present, is told of Our Lords appearing. He replies that unless he sees the print of the nails in His hands and places his finger in the mark of the nails and places his hand in His side he will not believe. Father Gregory gives...

Today Father Gregory concludes his series on the Lord's Prayer by contemplating the line "But deliver us from evil." The previous sermon in this series reflected on different types of temptations. Temptations that bring pleasure are voluntary, and those that bring pain are involuntary. Temptations are a benefit for Christians and necessary to work out their salvation. The devil is the source of te...

Today is known as the Sunday of The Holy Cross. The Church places the Cross of Christ in our midst as a signpost on our journey toward Pascha. The Gospel for today from Mark 8:34-38; 9:1 says that to follow Jesus we must deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. In today's world, we tend to avoid discomfort and inconvenience. Father Micah shares in his message that to take up our cross we...

Today Father Gregory continues his series on the Lord's Prayer with the line, "and lead us not into temptation." Temptations in life are unavoidable. The Israelites were tempted in the wilderness for forty years and Jesus forty days in the desert after His Baptism. Temptations or trials are a necessary struggle for Orthodox Christians in their journey toward salvation. The Fathers teach temptation...

Today is the first Sunday in Lent. It is also known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, a day we commemorate the restoration of Holy Icons back into the Church. The Gospel reading from John 1:43-51 remembers an early time in Jesus' ministry and the calling of two of His disciples, Phillip and Nathaniel. Jesus tells Nathaniel he will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the...

Today, on Forgiveness Sunday, the Gospel comes to us from Matthew 6:14-21. The Lord said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Our guest speaker, Dr. Jeannie Constantinou, reflects on today's Gospel and theme. She asks the question, "Is there anything wort...

Today is Meatfare or Judgement Sunday in the Orthodox Church. Father Gregory reminds us that we live in a fallen world, speaking on the horror in Ukraine and discussing the prodigal son from last week's Gospel. Forgiveness is essential in a fallen world and is the theme of next week's Gospel. Continuing his series on the Lord's Prayer, Father Gregory examines the verse, "Forgive us our trespasses...

Today in the Orthodox Church is known as the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. The Gospel reading for the day comes to us from Luke 15:11-32. In this well-known parable, the younger son demands his inheritance from his father only to lose it through prodigal living leading to hunger. Hunger helps us realize we are not autonomous and need communion with others and God. The heart of Father Micah's sermon...

Today Father Gregory continues his series on the Lord's Prayer by reflecting on the petition, "Give us this day our daily bread." Translated the petition says, "give us tomorrow's bread today." To answer what type of bread Jesus is referring to, Father Gregory examines the use of the word bread and its significance to the Hebrews. Bread in the Jews mindset would imply manna that God rained down fr...

In today's Gospel taken from Matthew 5:14-19, Jesus tells us we are to let our light shine before men, allowing them to see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Father Micah shares a three-part recipe for letting our light shine, which is our calling. First, we must acquire love by sacrificing our wants and time. Secondly, we must gain humility through prayers for mercy and enlightenme...

Father Micah takes an aside from our current sermon series, Our Father. In today's Gospel lesson taken from Luke 18:35-43, a blind man calls out to Jesus and has his sight restored. One of the first images he sees is the face of Our Lord Jesus. Prayer keeps us from being blind. It is the light for our eyes and breath for our lungs. Prayer is our hope and where we will find peace. Through prayer, w...

Today, Father Gregory continues his series on the Lord's Prayer. Each of the three lines covered today, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, are considered commandments or wishes without specifying who accomplishes the wish. God wills for good to be done, but He never violates our free will. In each of the lines covered today, He depends on us, choo...

Today Father Gregory shares part one of a three-part series on the rich and deep central prayer of the Orthodox Church, The Lord's Prayer. The series intention is to help deepen our understanding and zeal for the prayer Jesus gave only to His disciples around 30 AD. This prayer was part of the experience of the Church and passed down orally. The first line of the prayer, " Our Father, who are in h...